reviews_and_ramblings | Excerpt Day: Adaptations by Lee Benoit

Toy Box: Beads edited by M. Rode, with stories by Lee Benoit, S. Blaise, and Syd McGinley
Release Date: 04/2009
Publisher: Torquere Books
ISBN-13: 978-1-60370-691-9
ISBN-10: 1-60370-630-691-7
Publisher Link: http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1914

Blurb: Beads as a sex toy? Absolutely. They can be hotter than hot, and the three stories in this toy box prove it. First, Paulo and Preston are back in Lee Benoit's Adaptation. Paulo worries that Preston is no longer interested in topping him. He goes to Preston's best friend Tasim for advice, but can Tasim help Paulo figure out what's wrong or are Paulo and Preston on their way out? In An Innocent Misunderstanding by S. Blaise, relative innocent Stephen lets himself into his boyfriend Ray's apartment one afternoon to find a string of rubber beads with a note reading "I'm sure you can find something to do with this." Stephen figures the beads are some sort of decoration, so when Ray comes home, they're both in for a bit of a surprise! Finally, Syd McGinley brings us Ain't Misbehavin'. Rinnie and Tommy are living with Dr. Fell's mentor, Dr. Pol Rønne. When Tommy takes too long getting ready to go home after a drag show, he and Rinnie have to put on a show of their own for Pol using Tommy's mardi gras beads in a most unusual way.

“Adaptations” is a new installment in my Paulo & Preston tales, featuring singing sub Paulo and his older Dom, Preston. In this episode, Paulo worries that Preston has lost interest in topping him. The real reason comes as a surprise, and Paulo and Preston have to work together to find a solution. A set of anal beads comes in handy… “Adaptations” appears in the Toy Box: Beads anthology from Torquere Press, and also features a Felliverse story from Syd McGinley and a story from Torquere newcomer S. Blaise.

Excerpt:

The early darkness closed in until Paulo gave in and turned on every light in the house. He ate some leftover cachupinha from his grandmother’s recipe. The fresh cilantro was wilted but the linguiça and corn tasted fine. There were always leftovers these days as Preston seemed to eat less and less.

He stood at the sink rinsing his bowl when the shell fragments covering the driveway crunched under car tires. Preston was home. Perversely, Paulo’s dick woke up, stretched, and pointed towards the door. Dumb prick, Paulo thought grimly, convinced there would be no action tonight, just like every night for more than a week.

The kitchen door opened. “Paulo, we need to talk.”

Shit. Paulo had thought he’d be ready when Preston ended things, but he wasn’t. Not even close.

He didn’t say anything.

“Bedroom,” Preston growled, gesturing with a small bundle he held in his gloved hand.

With a sense of impending doom, Paulo turned and headed to their bedroom, stopping just inside the door. His momentary erection was a memory now.

“Why can’t we do this in the kitchen?” he said, under his breath.

“I thought you didn’t like flashing the neighbors,” Preston said from right behind him.

“I never!” Paulo sort of loved flashing the neighbors, especially since they were all far enough away not to be able to see details. He turned around and faced Preston, refusing to back down even though he felt like he was getting in his Master’s face.

“Then I suppose it’s me that doesn’t like you flashing anybody but me,” Preston conceded, inching even further into Paulo’s personal space.

Preston flirting with him threw Paulo off. Weren’t they about to break up? Without thinking, he fingered his collar, the one Preston had given him when he moved in. He’d only had it a few short months. He didn’t want to give it up.

“Don’t be stupid, boy.” Preston’s voice was gruff. Normally that tone got Paulo panting, but today it just made him flush with indignation and sag with defeat.

“I—”

“You,” Preston interrupted. “You will kneel and listen.”

Paulo complied, but his heart wasn’t in it; he was reluctant to perform his last act of submission.

“We’re not over, Paulo.”